Plan Review

When you have finished creating your draft Project YOU Development
Plan, leave it alone for about 1 week and then review it.

During the week you will have been unconsciously mulling it over,
and testing to see if it is right for you. After the “rest”
period, take some time to look at the plan and make any changes.
Was the draft plan too ambitious, not hard enough, too focused on
one thing, too vague?

You can keep the plan private and do the review yourself, but you
may find you benefit from sharing it with someone else. In large
companies or organizations, the development plan is normally discussed
with a direct supervisor or leader.

People who find it hard to be objective about themselves or need
external motivation may find it a benefit to enlist a person to
support them. Maybe you lack some skills and know someone who wouldn’t
mind giving you the
benefit of their experience? The great thing about using the Project
YOU process is that you can make this decision for yourself and
your choice is not influenced by work politics.

How to choose a mentor

Here are some guidelines on how to choose an appropriate helper;

They are already good at what you are trying to develop –
a potential “role model”.

You trust them.

They are a good coach and can give you constructive feedback.
They have the time!

You may want to consider using a professional to fill this role
for you. There are life coaches, career guidance officers, therapists,
and counsellors to name a few, and you can see them in person, talk
over the telephone or even online. Before you hand any money over,
contact them and interview them to establish whether they will be
right for you – you want someone who can focus on outcomes
and actions, not reasons and explanations! Or you can consider using
my coaching services ! :-)

Phase 4 - Implement the Development Plan

OK! You have planned the work, now work the plan! OK, in non-management
speak, you have invested a good amount of time and effort in planning
your development. You may be wondering about the value of this whole
process, when you have completed three phases and haven’t
started doing anything yet. Be assured that all well-managed projects
work in this way, and personal development is no exception.

Top Tip - Do a mini-review each time you do something that
takes you out of your comfort zone. Think about 2 things you
did well, and one thing you could do better next time. The “thing
you could do better” will be your primary focus for improvement
the next time you do it.